NYT Strands Puzzle Unveils “Bee Friendly” Theme and Spangram “WILDFLOWER” on August 26, 2025

August 26, 2025 - The New York Times released its daily Strands puzzle today with a floral focus under the theme “Bee friendly.” Players tackling Puzzle #541 were challenged to uncover plant-related words that celebrate pollinator-friendly blooms.

In today’s edition, the spangram-the longest word that spans from one edge of the grid to the opposite side-was revealed as WILDFLOWER. The accompanying theme words that filled the six-by-eight letter grid consisted of:

Theme Word
DAISY
MARIGOLD
PRIMROSE
BLUEBELL
CHAMOMILE

Solvers first encountered gentle hints pointing them toward fragrant petals and nectar sources to guide their initial guesses. Those who identified DAISY and MARIGOLD early gained confidence in the floral motif, while the vertical orientation of the spangram beginning with “WI” led directly to WILDFLOWER.

Enthusiasts noted that today’s puzzle ranked among the more accessible challenges of the week, with veteran players characterizing its difficulty as low once the spangram was spotted. The early discovery of key theme words helped streamline completion, allowing many to finish the grid without relying heavily on the game’s hint feature.

The continued popularity of Strands underscores The New York Times’ success in diversifying its daily games lineup, providing readers with both quick wordplay and extended brain teasers. Today’s “Bee friendly” theme not only tested vocabulary skills but also celebrated the natural world’s vital pollinators.